Letter: Urges safety first with biosimilar drugs

The Illinois legislature currently is considering Senate Bill 1934 that would provide access to cost-effective interchangeable biosimilar drugs.

Like the original biologic drugs, these would treat patients who have complex, chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

Unlike the argument that Garth Reynolds made in his March 1 column, this legislation is not an issue of regulation, but rather an issue of patient safety and transparency. There can never be a generic version, but rather only a “similar” version of biologic drugs. Because of this, patients may react differently to the interchangeable biosimilar than he/she would to the original biologic drug.

Retail pharmacists fill an extremely small amount of biologic drugs per week. The argument that communicating with a physician places an undue burden on pharmacists is not strong enough to outweigh the importance of patient safety. Physicians need to be able to properly assess their patients’ experience with the drug and have a complete medical record for their patients.

This legislation actually creates the pathway that does not currently exist for the cost-effective interchangeable biosimilars to come to market. It provides common sense patient protections while providing access to these important, life-saving therapies. I urge support of SB 1934.

Michele (Pfeilschifter) Guadalupe

Chicago

The writer is vice president of advocacy and public policy for the Arthritis Foundation, Heartland Region.